The list of new Cuban cigars for 2018 appears to have emerged.
Tabak-Kontor, which operates the La Casa del Habano franchise in the Eastern German city of Leipzig, posted a chart on its Instagram that lists 16 items, mostly new with the exception of the Partagás Maduro No.1.
Update — A spokesperson from Habanos S.A. has confirmed the authenticity of this list and said the products listed are planned for 2018.
It’s consistent with a few things we already know. Habanos S.A. announced that Cohiba would be featured at the XX Festival del Habano, which begins in late February. The annual festival is the time in which Habanos shows off its new releases for the year.
One of which will be a Cohiba Reserva, which according to the list will be the Cohiba Robusto Reserva Cosecha 2014 (4 7/8 x 50). It will be packaged in 5,000 numbered boxes of 20 cigars.
Habanos has also already announced the Partagás Maduro Linea, i.e. Partagás Maduro line, would be featured at the festival.
According to the leaked list, there will be two new vitolas joining the Maduro No.1.
- Partagás Maduro No.1 (5 1/8 x 52) — Boxes of 25
- Partagás Maduro No.2 (4 3/4 x 55 pirámides) — Boxes of 25
- Partagás Maduro No.3 (5 3/4 x 50) — Boxes of 25
Montecristo has been selected for the next Colección Habanos release. The 20-count books will contain Gran Pirámides, a 6 3/10 x 57 belicoso.
The three Edición Limitada releases are:
- Romeo y Julieta Tacos Edición Limitada 2018 (6 6/10 x 49)
- H. Upmann Propios Edición Limitada 2018 (4 3/4 x 46)
- Bolívar Soberanos Edición Limitada 2018 (5 1/2 x 54)
The Romeo y Julieta and H. Upmann will come in boxes of 25, while the Bolívar is packaged in boxes of 10.
A special release will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Habanos festival. It’s called the 20 Aniversario Festival del Habano, which is expected to contain 100 cigars and limited to 450 pieces.
Ramón Allones will receive a limited release, called the Emperadores Extra. It uses the popular 109 format, a 7 1/4 x 49 Churchill extra with a rounded cap. It will come in boxes of 50, though it’s unknown how limited production will be.
Hoyo de Monterrey will receive a new vitola named La Hoyo de Rio Seco, a 5 1/2 x 56 cigar offered in three-count tubos, 10-count boxes and 25-count boxes.
The Vegueros Centros Finos measures 5 1/8 x 50 and will be offered in four-count cartons and 16-count metal boxes.
Both the Hoyo de Monterrey and Vegueros are regular production items.
La Casa del Habano franchises will receive the Hoyo de Monterrey Escodigos, a 7 1/11 x 49 cigar packaged in 10-count boxes.
The San Cristobal de la Habana Prado is also limited, though it’s unclear who will receive the 5 x 50 release.
Duty-free markets will receive the Montecristo Double Edmundo in 10-count travel humidors.
Finally, the Punch Preferidos (5 1/8 x 55) will be the German Edición Regional for 2018. It is expected to be limited to 10,000 boxes of 10 cigars.
Some of the list appears similar to this list which emerged on the Friends of Habanos forum in August.
Update (Nov. 13, 2017) — A spokesperson for Habanos S.A. confirmed the list is accurate. This post was originally published on Nov. 10.
Update (Nov. 14, 2017) — This post originally listed the La Hoyo de Rio Seco as a 46 ring gauge, ti is in fact a 56 ring gauge.